Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I've mentioned on OLM before how I have a strange love for compost. Not only is it great for the environment, but it's incredible for your garden's soil. I only started doing it this year, and it's easy peasy, I swear anyone can do it. You can get a fancy compost bin or simply make your own (like we did). The question most people ask me is "What can and can't you toss in the compost bin?" I hope this inspires you to start a compost of your own.

What to Compost:There are two classes Greens, which are high in Nitrogen and provide protein. While the Browns, which are high in carbon provide energy. The ideal compost would have four parts brown to one part greens.

Browns:

shredded cardboard, this means pizza boxes!

dried leaves

bark and sawdust, in moderation

straw

corn stalks

Greens:

grass clippings

leaves

kitchen scrapes (fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, tea bags)

fruits

What NOT to Compost:

pet droppings

ashes

colored paper

meat

bones

dairy

chemicals

I just toss everything in the compost bin and let it cook, I turn it often with a pitch fork. A healthy compost pile will have worms, but not flies. If I missed anything, please add it to the comments!

Nice! We compost at the cottage all summer, but after Earth Day last week, the kids asked again about doing it at home...I just don't have much of a yard & no garden here, so I never bothered...maybe I will now!